Folding table top



Nov. 7, 1933. J. B. O'CONNOR FOLDING TABLE TOP Original Filed Jan. 30, 1928 IVI/E/Vw/PF (Toms/5 0501mm? 5 -M 7 W JWHS.

VII

F ULDENG TABLE TQW John B. QUonnor, Aurora, 11., assignor to Lyon Metal Products Incorporated, Aurora, lit, a

corporation of llllinois (lriginal application January 30, 1323, Serial No. 250,462, now Patent No. 1,879,935, dated Sep= tember 27, 1332. Divided and this application September 22, 1933. Serial No. 433mm 9 (Claims.

My ,invention relates in general to tables and has more particular reference to a table having an improved top and pivoted legs adapted to fold up within the zone of the table top, whereby the table may be collapsed into small compass for storage purposes and to be extended to open position substantially normal to the plane of the table.

One object of the invention, is the provision of an improved table rim, of simplified construction, providing a seat in which the table top may be arranged and a flange to which the legs may be attached and within the-zone of which the legs may be folded.

Another object of the invention is the combination of the novel table rim and hinged leg in a folding leg table of a simplified construction, whereby to produce a sturdy, yet cheap folding table having a sightly appearance and capable of giving satisfactory operation over a long period of service.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a table having a rim comprising a single strip of sheet metal, suitably folded to provide a continuous rim or edge for the table top and having means to support a. table top within the rim. 7

A still further object of the invention resides in providing a table top comprising a flat member or board of relatively weak material and a strengthening and reinforcing rim made of a strip of sheet metal having a portion folded to form a strong tubular bead encircling the edge of the flat member.

A still further object resides in fastening the central board of the table top in the strengthening rim by invisible means, which is accomplished by providing a flange or flanges extending inwardly of the rim for supporting the central board in the rim and fasteners set in the edges of the board and taking into the flanges.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as the invention is better understood from the following description which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing discloses a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Referring'to the drawing Figure 1 is a perspective viewof a table embodying my invention showing the legs inopen position;

Figure 2 is flat development of the strip from which the rim of the table top is made;

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of a section of the strip shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a vertical cross section taken substantially along the line 3-3 in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view of the improved rim and showing the manner in which the top is supported thereby;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the corner of the table showing a preferred leg structure and manner of attachment of the folding leg in the frame.

To illustrate my invention, I have shown on the drawing a folding leg table having a top 11 and separating legs 13 pivotally mounted to the table top being adapted to be arranged in substantially normal open position or td be folded within the zone of the table top to form a compact folded table when notin use.

The table top comprises a peripheral rim 15, which is preferably built up from tubular members 16 formed by welding or otherwise securing together suitably folded strips of sheet metal 18 configurated as shown in solid lines in Figure 2 of the drawing, or the rim may be formed from a single strip of material 17 configurated as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 2. The strips 18 or strip 17 are folded along the lines 19 and the curled plane 21 to form tubular members having a cross section substantially, as indicated at 23. The strip 1'7 from which the tubular member is formed is also preliminarily notched before bending, as at 25, in its upper edge and 27 in its lower edge to permit the tubular member to be bent as at 29 to form a square table rim. Where individual strips 18 are used, the ends of the tubular members formed therefrom are abutted and welded together to form the rim. The upper extremity 31 of the strip, as viewed in Figure 3, forms an inwardly extending flange 32 in the finished rim/Figure 5. Below the portion 31 of the strip is a wide portion 33 which, in the finished rim, extends downwardly of the flange and forms a vertical inner wall 34. Below the portion 33 in the strip a narrow portion 35 is folded back uponthe lower edge of the portion 33 to form a strengthening flange 36 in the finished rim. Adjacent the portion 35 of the strip, a portion 3'7 is bent outwardly to form the bottom wall 38 of the tubular rim 23. Adjacent to and integrally connected with the portion 37 of the rim strip, a portion 39 extends upwardly to form the outer wall 40 of the tubular member 23. A part of the portion 39 is curled as at 41, Figure 3, to form a rounded shoulder 42, Figure 5, in the upper outer edge of the tubular rim 23. The portion 43 is bent downwardly to form the inner upper edge at of the tubular member and is bent till) to provide an edge 45 which projects inwardly and extends parallel to and engages the flange 32. It will thus be seen that the rim is provided with an inwardly extending flange comprising the portions 31 and 45, spaced somewhat beneath the upper edge of the tubular rim member 23, the upper inner surface 43 of which, together with the inwardly extending flange provides an annular seat adapted to receive and support the edges of a square board-like member 47 forming the table top proper. If desired, the adjacent engaging flange portions 31 and 45 may be secured together, as by spot welding, to form an integral flange 48 to render the rim more solid and substantial, or the lower flange 32 may, if desired, be extended and folded over upon the upper flange as shown at 50 in Figure 6 to strengthen the structure.

The table top, in the illustrated embodiment, is square and consists of a flat relatively thin board-like member 47 which may be formed of any suitable material and a suitable ornate cover sheet 49, which is preferably tightly stretched across the upper surface of the member 47 with its edges wrapped and secured to the edges of the member 4'7. The table top member 4'7 is arranged in the seat formed by the flange 48 and the wall portion 44 of the tubular member 23 and may be secured in position therein by convenient fastening means comprising, in the illustrated embodiment, a threaded bolt 51, the head of which is mounted in the table top and having a threaded shank extending downwardly through suitable perforations formed in the flange 48 and secured in place against withdrawal by means of nuts 53. It will be noted that the fastening means is entirely hidden from view, the cover 49 extending over the heads of the bolts 51 thus providing a neat and sightly table when viewed from above.

The legs 13 may be attached to the table top in any convenient manner, but I prefer to pivot the legs to the rim 15 at each of the four corners of the table and to so pivot the legs that when folded they extend entirely within the zone of the tubular member 23. To this end, the legs are pivotally mounted in brackets 55, which in turn are secured to the inner surface of the rim beneath the top supporting ledge 48. Each bracket is preferably formed from a single strip of metal suitably cut and bent to provide a top 5'7 from which a side 59 and an end 51 are bent at right angles. The edge of the top opposite the end 61 is also bent downwardly to provide a flange 63. The side 59 is formed at its lower edge with an off-set projection or button and the end 61 is formed to provide a struck-out cam surface 67. The lower end of this cam portion is provided with a notch 69. The bracket is preferably secured to the table with its upper surface 5'7 engaging the lower surface of. the inwardly extending flange of the tubular member, its side 59 and end 61 engaging the inner wall 33 of the tubular member. The bracket portions 5'7, 59 and 61 may be secured to the table rim by any convenient means, although I preferto employ spot-welding to secure the parts together.

The legs 13 preferably comprise tubular members having a substantially square cross section at their upper ends. Each leg is provided with upwardly extending ears 71, at its upper end, provided with aligned apertures, said ears being formed in opposite sides of the leg adjacent one side thereof, said adjacent side being extended to form a lateral flange '73, which flange has an upper edge '75 curled over to form a journal, the axis of which is in alignment with the apertures formed in the ears '71. The journal and ears are adapted to receive a rod or pin 77, which extends through perforations formed in the flange 63 and end wall 61 of the bracket. The ends of the rod '77 are preferably riveted in place in the bracket. This arrangement insures a substantially elongated hinge for the leg, which prevents it from wobbling in the plane of the axis of the hinge. The parts are so arranged that the leg when in open position is arranged in the corners of the table and when in folded position extends parallel with the side of the rim to which the end 61 of the bracket is attached. A similar bracket is attached at the adjacent corner of the rim with its side 59 secured opposite the lower end of the leg when in folded position and the projection 65 thereof is then in position to co-operate with the lower end of the folded leg to secure it in folded position, the resilience of the leg permitting it to be sprung over the protuberance, which thereupon engages beneath the leg and maintains the same in folded position within the zone of the rim.

Any suitable means may be employed to secure the leg to the table in open position, but I prefer to employ an improved ledge construction comprising a detent arranged in the upper portions of the leg to co-operate with the notch 69 in the bracket, which operates as a latch keeper. The detent comprises an arm formed from a metal strip and having a nose '79, a body 81 and a handle 83. The body of the detent and the nose thereof are arranged through slots 85 formed in the side walls of the leg vertically below the ears '71 thereof, and the body of the detent is pivoted to the base of the flange '73 by means of a pin 87, the handle 83 extending beyond the lower edge of the flange '73 in position to be operated to release the leg for folding. The nose of the detent is normally urged in an upward direction, that is to say, toward the axis of the hinge by means of a spring 89 secured as at 91 to the body of the detent within the leg, the other end of the spring being secured to the hinge pin 7'7. When the leg is in open position, the nose of the detent registers with the notch 69 and engages therein under' the influence of the spring. When it becomes necessary or desirable to fold the legs into the zone of the rim, the detent may be released from the notch by pressing upwardly on the handle 83, which is conveniently arranged adjacent the lower edge of the rim. This operation releases the detent from the notch, whereupon the leg may be swung to folded position, the detent sliding along the cam surface 67. The end of the leg may be sprung behind the protuberance 65' of the adjacent bracket.

When it is desired to open the leg, the lower end is sprung from behind the protuberance and the leg is then swung to open position, the nose '79 of the detent riding upon the cam surface 67 and being guided thereby into registration with the notch 69.

The table of my invention offers numerous advantages, amongst which combination of lightness and strength is of great importance. In tables of this characteristic, rigidity when the legs are in open position is highly important, since a wobbly table is undesirable and in many instances useless. My improved construction, particularly the tubular nature of the rim imparts lightness, while the internal flange 48 and the downwardly extending bead 44 imparts strength, and the 1,934,872 outer curled wall 42 imparts beauty in the table rim. The rim also provides a zone within which the table legs can be folded out of sight and the construction, where the member 47 is secured at its edges in a depressed seat, permits the same to be fastened in place by concealed fastening members, all of which combines to provide a product of surpassing beauty.

It is thought that the invention and numerous of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it is obvious that numerous changes may be made in the form construction and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention or sacrificing any of its attendant advantages, the form hereinbefore described being a preferred embodiment for the purpose of illustrating my invention.

I do not claim herein the subject matter of invention claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 250,462, filed January 30, 1928, now Patent No. 1,879,945 of Sept. 27, 1932, of which the present application comprises a division.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new,and desireto secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A table comprising a rail made of sheet metal and having free ends, the free ends being bent inwardly of the body of the rail and providing integral legs which extend inwardly from said rail and arranged below the'top of said rail, and a table top supported by said bent legs. I

2. A table comprising a plurality of rails made from sheet metal, the free edges of said rails being bent and brought together at a point intermediate the top and bottom of the rails and extending inwardly from the vertical plane of the rails, and a top flush with the top of said rails and supported "by said free edges. 4

3. A table comprising a plurality oi rails made from sheet metal, the free edges of said rails being bent inwardly and brought together intermediate the top and bottom of the rails and extending inwardly from the vertical plane of the rails, a top flush with the top of said rails and resting on said free edges, means connecting said rails, and fastening means passing through said free edges and engaging said top.

4. A table comprising a rail made of sheet metal and having free ends, one free end being bent inwardly and then reversely to provide spaced inwardly extending members having a space therebetween, the other free end being bent inwardly and extending into said space.

5. A table comprising a rail made of sheet metal and having free ends, one free end being bent inwardly and then reversely to provide spaced inwardly extending members having a space therebetween, the other free end being bent inwardly and extending into said space, said free ends providing an inwardly extending flange, and a table top supported by said flange.

6. A table comprising a rail made of sheet metal and having free ends, one free end being bent inwardly and then reversely to provide spaced inwardly extending members having a space therebetween, the other free end being bent inwardly and extending into said space, said free ends providing an inwardly extending flange oi three thicknesses of material, said flange extending below the upper edge of the rail, and a top supported by said flange and flush with the top of the rail.

7. A table comprising a rail made of sheet metal and having free ends, one free end being bent inwardly and then reversely to provide spaced inwardly extending members having a space therebetween, the other free end being bent inwardly and extending into said space, and leg supporting members, the sides thereof fastened to the rail and their tops engaging one of the inwardly extending members.

8. A table comprising a rail made of sheet metal and having free ends, one of said free ends being bent and extending inwardly, the other of said free ends being bent to provide a recess into which the first free end extends.

9. A table comprising a rail made of sheet metal and having free ends, one of said free ends being bent to provide an inwardly extending flange, the other of said freeends being bent to provide inwardly extending spaced legst said flange extending between said spaced legs.

JOHIN' B. OCONNOR.

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